Dance Show Gives Students a Voice

The curtains lift and the stage lights glow. 28 dancers step onto the floor, ready to perform pieces that were written by their own classmates. The show is called “Room to Dance, ” and it takes place each year at Santa Fe College’s Fine Arts Hall. Students who take a course called Dance Composition learn many styles of movement and how to create choreography. At the end of spring, they finish their dance scripts and then rehearse for seven weeks. When the performance ends, the choreographers stay on stage to answer questions from the audience about their creative choices. The director, an assistant professor at Santa Fe, has led the production for more than five years. She says she feels privileged to watch her students bring their ideas to life. “I’ve seen amazing talent from people as young as eighteen, ” she notes. Each new group brings fresh perspectives to the stage. The idea for “Room to Dance” began over 25 years ago, when a small studio was turned into an impromptu theater. The name stuck because it gave the performers a literal space to move freely. Today, the event is held in the college’s auditorium and draws an enthusiastic crowd.One student, a 20‑year‑old junior named Lucas Hollis, performed a solo called “After the Applause. ”The piece reflects his personal struggles and the quiet emotions people carry. He chose music that matched his feelings and aimed to make the audience feel something deep inside. Hollis said he has been dancing since childhood, inspired by his sister’s stage presence. Another student, 19‑year‑old Gylla Macgregor, worked on a group piece titled “Korrosion. ”The choreography was inspired by themes from Dante’s Inferno, such as escape and desperation. She created the dance on the spot, listening to the music and letting it guide her steps. Macgregor praised the variety of styles in the show, saying new generations are pushing boundaries through dance. The program continues to grow each year, offering students a platform to express themselves and share their art with the community. It remains a celebrated tradition that celebrates creativity, hard work, and the joy of movement.